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CaribbeanKota
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2002
07:05:58
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 Subject: RE: Body Lift Resolve
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I was able to get rid of the clunk in the steering column. Does anyone else notice that the steering is now sloppy? Let me explain there is no play in the steering wheel so when i move the wheel a hair the tire moves a hair....what I am talking about is the truck just feels unstable...does not track like it used to on highway.....is anyones steering wheel now turned a hair for straight ahead?......
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bjlindsey
*GenIII*
6/11/2002
07:15:08
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Yes mine is turned slightly for straight ahead also, but not sure if it is from the crowning of the road and the XTerrains just wanting to follow the crown or the alignment is different w/ the bigger/wider tires. What was the clunk in the steering column caused by???
01 QC 4x4 5.9L 3.92 LSD
3" Body Lift, 305/70-R16 XTerrains,
K&N clone, Clear Corners, Carbon Fiber Tails,
www.FreeGasForYou.com
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CaribbeanKota
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2002
08:05:15
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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The clunk was eliminated by filing the inside of the box end of the steering linkage adapter.....man I tell you this has been my least favorite mod so far...thinkin hard bout taking the ride back stock...BJ you fooled me with your photos...I thought hey not too much frame showing at all....boy was I wrong.....
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bjlindsey
*GenIII*
6/11/2002
08:13:42
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Didn't mean to try to fool you...was actually trying to show how much actually showed...just crappy pictures. I seem to notice it more now myself, but still feel it's well worth it.
01 QC 4x4 5.9L 3.92 LSD
3" Body Lift, 305/70-R16 XTerrains,
K&N clone, Clear Corners, Carbon Fiber Tails,
www.FreeGasForYou.com
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4wDakota
GenIII
6/17/2002
12:47:04
|  RE: Body Lift Resolve
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I learned an important lesson which I think anyone who will be installing a body lift should know. The instruction say "lift the passenger side, install blocks, then lift drivers side and install blocks then tighten all bolts." What they should say is lift passenger side, install blocks, then lift drivers side and install blocks then remove each bolt one at a time and apply loctite and then tighten bolt. I made the mistake of putting loctite on the passenger side then lifting the drivers side. By the time I came back to the passenger side the loctite had set and the bolts were locked in place. Couldn't torque them accurately at all.
If you have a tow hitch, the hole for the tow hitch is 2" higher than the two other holes. If you follow the instructions and raise the two holes for the bottom mounts 3" up and then redrill the frame and bumper for the third hole then your hitch will not be bolted. What I did was raised my bumper 2" and used the existing hole where the hitch mounts. This allowed me to attach the bumper with one bolt on each side and hold it in place while I drilled the other holes. You can't even tell the bumper isn't in a stock position. It looks great.
98 CC 4x4, 5.2 Auto 3.55LSD
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4wDakota
GenIII
6/17/2002
12:52:52
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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One other point.
For those with the 4x4 shifter on the floor.
If you want to weld the extension in place. then wait until the body is lifted, it will be a lot easier to remove since you'll have more room to move around the shifter.
Instead of welding in the extension, just get a piece of all-thread and a coupler nut. I wish I had. If you weld the extension then you have to install it and remove it numerous times as you "tweak" it to get the shifter to engage correctly. If you use the all-thread and coupler then you just unscrew it form inside the truck and bend it. Much easier than removing the entire shifter from under the truck.
98 CC 4x4, 5.2 Auto 3.55LSD
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Torque
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
13:25:32
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Took the plunge... ordered the PA 3" kit from Summit.
Has anyone tried just using an all threads extension for the gear shift on a five speed so you don't have to heat up the original gear shift and bend it?
2001 4.7L 5spd 4x4
<a href="http://www.coloradodesigns.com/truck">http://www.coloradodesigns.com/truck</A>
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Dr Vinculum
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2002
19:28:27
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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I've extended my transfer case lever with allthread and a coupler without having to remove,cut,weld,bend,tweek like instructions say to do, but I have an automatic so i dont know about the tranny shifter...
I too noticed the tow hitch throws a curve ball in the lifting the rear bumper... I moved my bumper 3" up and just welded the hitch near the bolt that cant be installed. I could easily cut the weld off with a cutoff wheel if i had to, but I dont think I'll ever want to reomve my hitch... pics of this at..
http://www.prostreet.org/dakotalift
'99 CC 4wd 5.2L auto
Dr V
vinculum@whiterose.net
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Torque
Dodge Dakota
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7/01/2002
01:42:14
| 3" body lift & 5spd = PITA
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I installed the body lift yesterday (saturday).
I had left the tranny in Neutral when I raised it and afterwards when I got in it, I couldn't get it out of 1st (or was it 3rd, or even 5th ?)
Note to all that are considering the body lift on 5spd 2001+, remove console before lifting.
So I pulled the console out and unscrewed that heavy rubber boot. Cool can shift again, but interior looks like hell. I don't want to cut the console, so I guess heating the shifter is my only option. And extension wouldn't work because it would make the throw way too long and it still might hit the console -- unless I could make something like a Z out of all-thread so it wouldn't increase the length very much at all but relocate the shifter forward to clear the console.
So now a few questions:
Does the gear shift come loose from that coupling nut (looks like one) that ties it to bent rod going into the shifter tower? I twisted on the SOB and it wouldn't budge (more grunt involved?)
I don't have access to an acetylene torch anymore, do you think a propane soldering torch would make it hot enough to bend?
Thanks.
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QUADMAN
GenIII
7/01/2002
08:11:11
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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I hate to say it but I to am very unsatisfied with this peice of crap bodylift. A bud of mine has a 99 cc with a 5.5 suspension lift and there is absolutely no comparison in the looks! The steering is starting to drive me nuts, especially offroad! Sounds like the steering stem bushing has gone bad its so sloppy. Maybe this works for some but after owning 6 jacked up trucks prior to this with this being the first with a body lift I'll not own another. I'm almost disgusted enough to get rid of the truck. That 6.5 inch lift sure would be nice but pride won't let me buy it from those morons! I also know that their 6.5 inch lift works cause theres a guy here in town that just had it installed last week and all he has said about it was good! I won't even comment on how well his truck looks and how mine looks sitting next to it! I guess it's time to put things into perspective! I know that I won't continue to throw my money away on a truck that I'm not pleased with, and right now I don't like the way it looks! Sorry for the rant!
OPINIONS ARE LIKE....WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST!!
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born2steel21
GenIII
7/01/2002
08:49:35
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Hey Quad...I think your truck looks good, but thats just me...by the way, what kind of meats are you running on your truck?
-- Death Before Dismount --
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Torque
Dodge Dakota
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7/01/2002
10:49:11
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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I hate to say this, but I doubt he paid $190 for his 5.5" lift. You get what you pay for... I choose to go the safest most inexpensive route since this is my daily driver and I don't offroad every night after work.
But I appreciate your complaints as things to watch out for and some of the CONs to the lift. Two questions for you... is it the steering extension that is making the steering sloppy? Also, what brand of body lift?
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born2steel21
GenIII
7/01/2002
18:35:17
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Hey Torque, I'd like to hear all your knowledge on working the shifter with the body lift...my body lift has been sitting in the garage for almost a month know because I'm worried about screwing it up...any help would be greatly appreciated.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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Torque
Dodge Dakota
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7/01/2002
19:00:10
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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I can't say for sure you won't have issues on your '99, but on my '01, pretty much everything was easy to put on. The only tools I used were an allen wrench for the steering extension, a variety of metric sockets and combo wrenches and a screwdriver. I even used my Dak's scissor jack instead of my hydraulic floor jack because the scissor will go straight up, the hydraulic wanted to move the body on the way up.
THe only thing i had problems with was those stupid radiator hose clamps (had to borrow neighbors big channel locks, would've replaced those bastards with regular hose clamps if store was closer) and the steering extension. You have to get the extension positioned on the rack and then the steering shaft on the extension just right for it to "drop in". Once you get it just right, it really just drops in, but getting it just right was my problem. But I will say, that since it is such a precise fit, it shouldn't cause any problems due to it wollering out. I took a really good pic of it, i'll post tonite.
For the manual tranny... the console is still out. I'm going to try to meet up with IMAN23 since he seems to have worked with the NV3500 shifter quite a bit (he installed a Hurst short throw on it). He's considering a body lift also, so he's trying to design something prior to install.
I;d say worst case senario, you drive a week or two with the console out till you can figure it out.... although if I remember correctly, Dakota Dodge has a body lift on his and he has a manual tranny also and didn't have to do anything on his. He'd probably know more quirks than me since he has the same style interior as you.
Oh, BTW... since the PA 3" kit comes with 2 additional 3x3 spacers for the quad cab (I have a CC), I used those instead of the little 2x3 ones clear at the rear of the bed. Figured the bigger size would be better for carrying loads back by the tail gate.
I didn't take a ton of pics, but ones I did take, I'll post on my site when I get time.
--
http://www.coloradodesigns.com/truck
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born2steel21
GenIII
7/01/2002
21:24:56
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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thanks alot Torque...appreciate the info.
-- Death Before Dismount --
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CaribbeanKota
Dodge Dakota
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7/01/2002
22:21:09
|  RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Message:
I have my 4th of July Plan.....Uninstall the crappy 3" PA body lift on my truck.....Install the HO cams (already paid for can always go back stock)drive the piss out of the truck to see if the HO cams were worth the bread....and hit the truck dealers....yep made it a year and a few months and I just can't take it anymore I think I will go buy a more capable truck for truck duty....still like the look of the Dakota but now I am convinced they are overpriced......Sorry and no offense to all of you body lift liking guys out there...I just have enjoyed my other Trucks better in the past....to all of you have helped me out thank you very much
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QUADMAN
GenIII
7/02/2002
08:32:35
|  RE: Body Lift Resolve
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The only reason I went the cheap route and bought the PA body lift is because thats the only choice I had or still have. Yes the steering spacer is what is making the noise. Mine had no slop in it at first either but now after 7000 miles with absolutely no offroading it slops around like crap and clunks with just about evry road imperfection. Your right, you get exactly what you pay for!
OPINIONS ARE LIKE....WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST!!
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Jon H.
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2002
04:02:44
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Message:
Are there as many problems with the 2" lift as with the 3"?
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YJ
Dodge Dakota
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7/03/2002
11:04:01
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Wow, I'm really glad I read this thread. Thank you guys.
YJ
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arthur
Dodge Dakota
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7/04/2002
03:28:27
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Message:
That's why i started this thread, to make sure every point and opinion was said, so caribbeankota...what truck you going to go looking for?
And just an obervation that anyone can say i'm wrong to...it seems most the body lift problems come from 2000+ trucks that are either running stock tires still, or 32's...but no problems from the guys running 33X12.50's...might be something for someone to look into, but i personally can't cause i'm leaving for Italy for a month Friday morning and i plan on spending the whole day four wheeling at the dunes for the 4th...which as of 30 minutes ago is today!
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blued
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/21/2002
19:32:38
|  RE: Body Lift Resolve (continued)
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Well i placed the order for a 3" body lift today for my 99 5.9 4X4 Durango ... Already have one on the 2001 Dakota. The lift was on the dakota when we bought it and I think it looks great so I decided to go that route with the Durango. Hoping to crank the Torsion bars a fuzz and stuff 33's under it. Any opinions on fitment will be appreciated. I am thinking about going with 15X10 Rims but heard there were some rubbing issues so I may go with 15X8 rims. Any input on the Rim choice would also be appreciated. This board has saved me many a time so thanks in advance for all your insight.
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Traumer
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2002
19:05:35
|  RE: Body Lift Resolve
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BTT,
Midway through this post there was discussion about getting the instructions in an electronic format and posted. Any success? Web or email?
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1KEWLDAK
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2002
20:37:24
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Message:
hey guys one solution to your clunking in the steering is to tighten the dang extension,lol! i was having the same problem with my steering shortly after my pa body lift....finally i had enough,i just tightened it down extremely tight! problem solved its been about five thousand miles since that ,and ive had no noise!also when i first installed the extension i ground the edge of the extension flat.
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Chad
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2002
21:18:12
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Gentlemen, I recently bought a 3" PA body lift for my 2000 QC and I have been reading some of your comments. I am concerned with sloppy steering after the install. The truck handles very well now and I don't want to ruin that. I planned on installing 15x8 eagle wheels with 33x12.50 if that makes a difference. Also, will I have to do any trimming with that tire wheel combo? Thanks for your help.
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conig
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
11:02:16
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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can you get a 2inch body lift for a 2000? I'd really rather have 2 then 3 inches. whats different between the 97-99's and the 2000+ dakotas?
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97_blk_dak
GenIII
12/17/2002
18:31:31
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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I just installed the lift last week and don't have any slop at all in the steering. Just make sure you tighten the extension as tight as you can like 1KEWLDAK said. I had to put a small pipe over the end of the alan wrench and reach throught the front wheel well to get leverage on it. It might be worth a try for some of you with the sloppy steering.
PICS
1997 5.2L 4X4 CC
Dakota USA
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dodgesalesguy
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
19:55:04
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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i have just installed my 3" PA lift and eagle 589s 15x10 w/ procomp x-terrains. no steering issues and after 6 rotozip metal blades no rubbing either!!
if it rubs... cut it off!!!!!
heh heh
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Christopher
Dodge Dakota
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12/19/2002
02:15:21
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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I've had the 3" body lift for 6000 miles and off roading with no steering problems. No clunk or shake. The steering wheel moved a few inches to the right until I had it alligned.
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zz4power72
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2002
12:06:40
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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if your steering is off it could be a wore out gear box. But in your case most likely not. try getting a shaft extender from trail master, if you havent already. If you so get one make sure not to turn your steering wheel when the shaft is apart from the gear box. If you move the wheel you can mess up your air bag system
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Chad
Dodge Dakota
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12/20/2002
19:26:37
| RE: Body Lift Resolve
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Thanks for the info. guys. After the project, I'll post some pics. I really appreciate it. Hey Conig, I agree, I would rather go with a 2" also. I think the Club Cab kit is the same as the Quad Cab kit and in 1999 the QC didn't exist. (extra blocks in the new kit I think)
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